As rising industrial production drives the economic recovery, leading manufacturers detailed their successful rebound strategies at the 25th annual International Forum on Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) in Providence, R.I.

DFMA results reported by ITT Aerospace, Hypertherm, IDEXX Laboratories, Boeing, Motorola, Pratt & Whitney, QSI, Raymond, Rockwell Automation, Southco and others showed significant cuts in material, labor and assembly costs that enabled companies to stay competitive, even profitable, despite the economic downturn.

“Companies realize that early use of DFMA maximizes their Lean and Six Sigma efforts in ways that go far beyond incremental improvements,” says Boothroyd Dewhurst president John Gilligan. “There are practical and achievable methods that help generate profits and distinguish oneself from the competition. Those who have stayed focused on these truths in recent years are emerging well-prepared for the manufacturing environment of the future.”

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